BUSINESSES affected by coronavirus will have one week to apply for up to £10,000 in funding after Hackney Council today reopened a £3.4m grant scheme ahead of a Government-imposed deadline next month.
The Discretionary Grant Fund is aimed at small businesses who have experienced a significant fall in income due to coronavirus and still face ongoing fixed property-related costs and are not eligible for previous Government business grant schemes launched in March. There are two levels of grants – up to £10,000 for small businesses and up to £5,000 for micro businesses.
Since it was launched by the Council in June, nearly £1.3m has been paid to 245 businesses, and hundreds of more applications are still being processed. But with some funding likely to still be available, the Council has now reopened the fund.
The Government told councils earlier this month that applications must be made by 28 August, with funding paid by 30 September, otherwise money would be returned to the Treasury. These restrictions were not communicated when the scheme was set up.
Businesses that have already received grants through the Small Business Grant Fund, or Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Grant Fund are not eligible to apply. More than £62million has been distributed to thousands of businesses by the Council since March through these funding programmes.
Applications for the reopened Discretionary Grant Fund will close at midnight on 28 August. To find out more you can visit the Hackney Council website and visit the Discretionary Grant Fund page.